15 Paid Psychology Internships for Undergraduates
If you’re an undergraduate student, doing internships during college helps you build a stronger resume, gain work experience, and improve your chances of landing future jobs or getting into graduate school. You’ll get a clearer picture of what it's like to work in a specific field. If you are majoring in psychology, this kind of experience matters even more since the field covers many paths, including research, mental health, education, business, and social services.
Why should I do a paid psychology internship in college?
Internships will give you early exposure to how psychology is used in research labs, clinical settings, schools, and workplaces, and in turn, improve your employability chances. These internships will help you apply what you’ve learned in class, develop skills, and get a better sense of which psychology careers might be right for you. Paid internships are especially useful because they enable you to focus on learning while saving money for future educational expenses.
As an undergraduate, you can find paid psychology internships in research labs, hospitals, mental health clinics, nonprofits, schools, and corporate settings. These roles may involve helping with research and data analysis, working with people, supporting programs, or learning about behavioral health services and mental health advocacy. To make things easier, we narrowed down a list of 15 paid psychology internships for undergraduates that offer useful experience and exposure across different settings.
1. Harvard University Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science Summer Internship
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective. 2 to 6 students
Dates: 9 to 10 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Undergraduate students age 18 or older
Harvard’s Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science offers a summer internship for undergraduates interested in research at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and sociology. You’ll work with one or two senior lab members on active projects studying topics like social learning, moral reasoning, and causal judgment. You’ll also receive training in advanced research methods in cognitive science, computational psychology, and philosophy. The program includes research training sessions, professional development, and social events, including networking opportunities with Harvard faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. The lab, also known as the Cushman Lab or Moral Psychology Research Lab, focuses on social cognition, particularly moral judgment and behavior.
2. University of Minnesota Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) — Neuroscience of Neurological Disorders and Drug Addiction (NS and NS-ADD) Program
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Stipend: $4,000 to $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 13 percent. Roughly 60 students
Dates: May 30 to August 8
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Undergraduates enrolled full time at an accredited 2 or 4 year U.S. college or university who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) at the University of Minnesota is a 10-week program for undergraduates interested in clinical research, including a program on neurological disorders and addiction. You’ll work on a research project with a faculty mentor and get guidance from a graduate student Seminar Coordinator. The program includes orientation, ethics seminars, career sessions, professional development workshops, and social activities. At the end, you’ll present a poster at the SURE Poster Symposium and attend a closing luncheon. The Neuroscience track provides 10 weeks of lab experience in areas such as neurodegenerative disorders and drug addiction. You’ll take a short “Introduction to Neuroscience” class and attend seminars to support your research.
3. Pathways into Quantitative Aging Research (PQAR) Summer Program at NYU
Location: NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 12 students
Dates: June 8 to July 17
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current undergraduates or recent college graduates who are U.S. citizens or non citizen permanent residents
The Pathways into Quantitative Aging Research Summer Program is a six-week internship in which you’ll explore aging-related research through classes, small-group projects, seminars, and site visits to public health organizations in New York City. You’ll learn quantitative and qualitative research methods, complete responsible conduct of research training, and get GRE prep. After the summer, you will stay involved through monthly journal clubs and mentoring, with a possible January return and funded conference opportunities. You’ll work on aging-focused projects such as Alzheimer’s research, using statistical and computational methods to analyze data. The program also covers the psychology of aging, including behavioral health, well-being, cognitive decline, psychological distress, and the mental health effects of aging and social factors.
4. MindCORE Summer Fellowship Program @ UPenn
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid. Amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3 to 5 percent. Typically 12 to 14 students
Dates: May 31 to August 7
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Full time undergraduate students at an accredited institution who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Graduating seniors not eligible
The MindCORE Summer Fellowship is a paid 10-week program open to Penn and non-Penn undergraduates. It matches you with MindCORE faculty in interdisciplinary mind and brain research based on your interests and mentor fit, to work on a research project shaped around what you want to explore. You’ll start with a one-week introductory workshop on cognitive science research, followed by nine weeks of mentored research. Throughout the program, you’ll join weekly lunches with research discussions and faculty seminars, lab demos, lab tours, research ethics and technical training, journal clubs led by grad students or postdocs, group check-ins, and other professional development activities. You’ll also get guidance in creating a final poster or presentation.
5. University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Science BSOS Summer Research Initiative
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Stipend: $4,000 plus coverage for travel and program related costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. Around 15 students
Dates: June 1 to July 24. Orientation May 30 and 31
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Undergraduates enrolled at colleges or universities in the U.S. or its territories. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Must have taken a basic statistics or research methods course
UMD’s Behavioral and Social Sciences Summer Research Initiative (SRI) is an 8-week program that provides undergraduates in psychology and other social or behavioral sciences with mentored research experience and preparation for graduate school. It pairs you with a UMD professor to design and carry out a project based on your interests. The program covers departments like Neuroscience & Cognitive Science, Psychology, African American & Africana Studies, Economics, Geography, Anthropology, Government & Politics, Hearing & Speech Sciences, Criminology & Criminal Justice, and Sociology. You’ll get hands-on lab or research experience, attend lectures and workshops, and learn about graduate school and doctoral training. You’ll also gain mentoring and networking opportunities to support your future in social and behavioral sciences.
6. American Psychological Association’s Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowship
Location: Any accredited college or university in the USA or Canada where a faculty member agrees to supervise your research
Stipend: $4,000, paid in two separate installments
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive. Around 25 students
Dates: At least 9 weeks in the lab. Minimum 20 hours per week. Dates set by you and your mentor
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Undergraduates enrolled at an accredited degree granting institution in the USA or Canada
In this program, you’ll first secure a faculty mentor, then spend nine weeks working in their lab on a psychological science project you’ll help design and lead from proposal to completion. Mentors provide lab space, guidance, and regular one-on-one meetings, with support from graduate students or postdocs when available. During the summer, you’ll join virtual meetings with peers, researchers, and APA staff, along with career development webinars in June, July, and early August. Program requirements also include fellowship check-ins, mentor verification, brief surveys at multiple points, and a final presentation and reflection on your research, lab experience, and career goals in September and October.
7. Boston College Cooperation Lab Summer Internship
Location: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Stipend: $6,000 stipend (tentative). Students not admitted through the NSF REU process do not receive a stipend. BC supports external funding applications
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 10 to 15 students
Dates: 10 weeks, starting first week of June
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Undergraduates in a U.S. program entering sophomore, junior, or senior year
The Cooperation Lab at Boston College focuses on social and developmental psychology and runs an NSF-funded summer internship for a small group of undergraduates. You’ll work with a mentor studying how children develop cooperative abilities, looking at culture, evolution, and development. You’ll run studies with children, analyze data, and link psychology with anthropology and evolutionary biology, gaining experience from data collection to analysis and discussion. The program pairs you with a graduate student, postdoc, or lab coordinator to work on your own project for the summer. You’ll also attend weekly lab meetings with undergraduates, grad students, postdocs, and the principal investigator, plus professional development workshops like R data analysis and panels on applying to graduate school.
8. Summer Internship Program at Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness
Location: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid. Amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. Around 11 students
Dates: June 8 to August 14. Some extensions possible
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates (rising seniors), master’s, or doctoral students at a U.S. institution. International students need valid CPT or OPT by April 1. All interns need or must apply for a Social Security Number
Harvard’s Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness offers a paid summer internship for undergraduates to study psychology through a public health lens. You’ll explore links between physical, social, and mental health and help inform policy and healthcare equity. The program matches you with a Center researcher or affiliate based on your skills and interests. Your work may include data collection and analysis, literature reviews, grant-writing support, or the creation of information resources. You’ll also take part in weekly meetings, networking events, and professional development sessions with faculty and public health professionals. You’ll give a 10-minute presentation and submit a short report summarizing your work at the end of the internship.
9. NSF REU Site: Translating Research in the Psychological Sciences to the Real World
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Stipend: $4,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. Up to 8 students
Dates: May 25 or June 1 to July 31
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents
Rice University runs a research program for students interested in social and individual psychology, with topics ranging from technology and behavior to political engagement. You’ll work with a Rice faculty mentor who matches your interests to design and carry out a research project. You’ll also give a conference-style presentation at the end of the program and receive travel funding to attend a national psychology conference the following year. You can review faculty research areas and rank your top three mentor choices. The program will help you build research skills and prepare for graduate study and careers in psychological science. You can also arrange academic credit through Rice or your home institution.
10. Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Human Development & Family Sciences (OUR HDFS) Fellowship Program
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Stipend: $5,625 plus travel and meal coverage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 12 students
Dates: October 1 to May 15
Application Deadline: August 31
Eligibility: Undergraduates majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences or related fields such as psychology, education, or sociology, who can travel to Texas State University every Friday during the academic year, and who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
Texas State University’s OUR HDFS Fellowship Program supports undergraduates from STEM-limited institutions in Central Texas who are interested in Human Development and Family Sciences. Over 25 weeks, you’ll work with a TSU professor and a graduate student on a research project, learning about mental health, developmental and social psychology, and sociology while getting guidance on graduate school and academic careers. You’ll commute to campus on Fridays, attend weekly lab meetings, monthly mentorship sessions, six workshops, and two social events. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and a graduate student mentor, gain hands-on research experience, collaborate with other students, observe graduate student life, and receive guidance on HDFS careers.
11. Active Minds Internship Program
Location: Active Minds, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $1,250 per month
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 5–10 interns per semester across all departments
Dates: Fall: September to December. Spring: January to April. Summer: June to August
Application Deadline: Varies by session. Fall: Mid-August. Spring: October. Summer: Early March
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates
Active Minds’ internship program offers students a unique opportunity to support our mission while developing practical professional skills. Through this program, you will gain firsthand exposure to the nonprofit sector and contribute to shifting the cultural conversation around mental health. As an intern, you will collaborate on high-impact initiatives and assist staff with essential administrative tasks. This hands-on experience allows you to engage in meaningful work while actively influencing mental health awareness. Participants are expected to commit to 20 hours per week, maintaining a consistent schedule within our core hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
12. Laney Graduate School (LGS) Summer Opportunity for Academic Research (SOAR) at Emory University
Location: Virtual or in person at Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Residential: $5,500. Virtual: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 20–30 scholars
Dates: Residential: May 26 to July 31. Virtual: June 1 to July 29
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Undergraduates not enrolled at Emory. Residential: Ideal for 2nd or 3rd year. Virtual: Ideal for 1st or 2nd year
The LGS SOAR Program at Emory University is a summer research program for undergraduates across many fields, including biomedical, public health sciences, biological, natural, and the humanities and social sciences. In the residential track, you’ll be placed in a partner program, with psychology options like PeDS GROWS in Neurology, focused on patient-based research with preterm infants and young children and their families, or the MB3 Mind, Brain, Body, and Behavior REU. You’ll also join workshops, seminars, and local activities as well as get one-on-one academic and career guidance. In the virtual track, you will join research discipline sessions led by current Laney Graduate School students and still take part in program activities.
13. Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship — Behavioral Health (Clinical) Track
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in person at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective. Typically 2–4 interns
Dates: Either 6 or 10 weeks between June 1 and August 7
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Current university or college students
This program matches you with faculty and staff mentors based on your interests to learn about career paths in pediatrics. If you choose the Behavioral Health clinical track, you’ll get hands-on clinical experience. You’ll work with Dr. Catarozoli, a licensed clinical psychologist who focuses on evidence-based care for children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety and related conditions. Your work may include case management support, shadowing the behavioral health team, and helping with data entry for program evaluation and outcomes. You’ll receive regular supervision and training, gain exposure to a range of behavioral health concerns and evidence-based interventions, and develop professional skills working directly in the field.
14. UC Berkeley Social Origins Lab Summer Internship
Location: Social Origins Lab at UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Stipend: $2,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 3–6 interns
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students enrolled at a U.S. college or university who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old
The UC Berkeley Social Origins Lab Summer Internship gives students experience in developmental and comparative psychology research. Over eight weeks, you’ll collect data at local museums and camps, help with ongoing studies, and learn how to code and analyze data. Under Dr. Jan Engelmann, you’ll study how social and cognitive skills develop across cultures and species. Your tasks include recruiting participants, running studies with young children, coding video data, and helping with basic admin work. You’ll work with graduate students, postdocs, and other undergrads, mainly on research involving children of different ages. You’ll also attend weekly professional development sessions on topics like PhD applications, research careers, and current projects in Berkeley’s developmental labs.
15. Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Neuroscience (NeuroSURP) at Rutgers University
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. 12 students
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least one year of college before the program starts, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and have taken some biology coursework can apply
Rutgers University’s NeuroSURP is a summer program that offers undergraduates mentored neuroscience research experience in labs on the Piscataway or New Brunswick campus. You’ll work regular weekday hours on a research project under faculty supervision, similar to a first-year PhD lab rotation. You’ll hear from graduate and medical school representatives, researchers at different career stages, and professionals from academia and the biopharmaceutical industry. You’ll study topics like attention, memory, addiction, psychiatric disorders, and dopaminergic signaling using modern research methods. Before the program starts, you’ll review available lab projects and rank your preferences. The program also includes weekly group lunches focused on career exploration.
Bonus
Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%. 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts across Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring January. Summer May. Fall September. Winter November
Eligibility: Undergraduates and gap year students who can work 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, fully virtual program where you’ll work with startups and nonprofits from around the world across many industries. You’ll be guided by a startup manager, a Ladder Coach, and a company coach as you take on a real project that the organization genuinely needs. You will complete smaller assignments, build a personal project tied to the organization’s goals, and present your final work at the end of the internship, including to the board. Ladder’s strong partnerships with health tech companies and mental health nonprofits make it a good option for psychology students. The program will also help you gain real professional experience and develop both soft and technical skills. Apply now!
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